Sunday, February 8, 2009

Today I decided to draw just one card, asking, "What do I need to be aware of today?"

8 of Swords

This doesn't represent me, but someone very close to me. It came up in a reading I did last week (with a different deck) in the spread position representing him. I think there's a variety of reasons he's feeling this way right now, one of them being that he was recently turned down for a promotion. He aspires to great things and knows where he wants to be (the castle above), but feels trapped and maybe unable to see the path to get there.Sometimes when I'm working with the cards a quote or phrase will pop into my head, and then it just sticks as the meaning. The reading I did last week was with the Victorian Romantic Tarot, and the phrase that popped was, "My hands are tied." As in, "I wish I could do something about it, but my hands are tied." Here the blindfold and most of the restraints have been removed.To take it even further, I brought out the Anna.K Tarot for comparison. That card illustrates that the restriction is purely mental and self-imposed.Of the three, the situation in the Hanson-Roberts is the most hopeless. Not only is the bondage the most severe, but the figure is unable to see the way out of it. I have a couple of different takes on the castle. Like my friend's situation, it could be goals that seem out of reach. The distance from the castle to the water below shows that emotions may need to be shut off in order to achieve them. In another sense, I imagine the castle represents some sort of authority: the law, church, parents, etc. whose oversight prevents someone from having the freedom they would choose.I take this as a sign that I should reach out to my friend as he may not be able to reach out to me.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

I saw this spread on firefrost's blog and decided to give it a try. *cards pulled on 2/1*What have I done well?3 of SwordsWhat do I leave behind?7 of CupsWhat do I take with me?5 of Pentacles

I think I have done a good job of identifying habits that are unhealthy (and therefore cause sorrow/pain) and a result I will be leaving behind indulgence in fantasies (delusions?) that produce little result. Now about that 5 of Pentacles. I have been getting that card a LOT lately. I just checked--4 times in my last 13 three-card readings. It doesn't paint a very rosy picture. However...I have decided to stop taking it personally. I think this card represents the poor state of the economy as a whole and I just need to get used to the fact that it's going to stay that way for a while, particularly since I work in banking.

On that note, I decided to shuffle again and draw 2 new cards (keeping that miserable 5 out!) *cards pulled on 2/4*Why do I keep getting this card? 10 of Cups - As a reminder to count my blessings. For the most part I have not been personally affected by the downturn, and more importantly, I have people that love and care about me. I honestly see that in the 5 of Pents too. I can hear those people saying, "No matter what, we still have each other."What, if anything, can I do about it? X Wheel of Fortune - Confirmation that this is pretty much beyond my control. I really can't do anything to change it, so I have to just roll with it. I can't think of any other card that would be as convincing. Thank you tarot, you amaze me once again.

Friday, January 30, 2009

A few months ago I decided a 'back to basics' approach might be best for my tarot studies right now. My decision to use the Hanson-Roberts decks is largely influenced by that, and the Primary Deck Reflections (PDR) is right up my alley. For one year, I will reflect on this deck in some manner at least once per week. I have been concentrating on 3 card readings for myself, using the Body-Mind-Spirit format. I am well acquainted with each of the card meanings, and I can usually find a meaning that matches for the particular position in a spread. What needs further development is tying it all together. Seeing the bigger picture.

6 of Cups - 5 of Pentacles - Temperance

So at first, same old thing, this card mean this, this card means that. After letting it sit for a while, playing around putting the cards in different order, different positions (not in a line), I am feeling the meanings come pouring in (look out-here comes that wave!) In challenging times of mental stress I seek out creature comforts, but to keep my spirit healthy I have to remember to keep it in moderation and take the good with the bad. In other words, childishly seeking pleasure can become like a crutch, which isolates us and prevents us from connecting with the divine aspects of our true selves. If like was forever idyllic, we would remain children forever. It is by confronting challenge and crisis that we become balanced and grow into mature spiritual beings. I don't want to go into too many details, but I have acted like a child this week, and isolated myself as a result. Luckily it is only temporary, and pretty easily resolved I'm sure.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Time to try something new. New for me anyway. I tend to be an intensely private person, to a point of contention in my relationship, so posting a public journal is out there for me. The major theme of this blog will be my study and acquisition of tarots. It's been nearly 15 years since I purchased my first tarot deck, although I really couldn't say when I first became aware and interested in the subject. Since then I have amassed a collection that now numbers over 300 tarots and some 50 other decks in the form of oracles, games, trading cards, etc. Only a small fraction of those have been reading decks for me, and in the past few years I find myself primarily reading with just one deck, the small, simple, yet very special Hanson-Roberts Tarot (c) 1984 U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Why? It's easy to shuffle because of the size, the card backs are pretty, and the close-ups make it easier to connect with the people depicted and get what's going on.I suppose I should kick this off with a draw, so what does the tarot have to say to me right now re: this blog? Page of Cups. The page is a student, someone beginning to develop her empathic abilities. This page wears her heart on her sleeve in the form of a brooch, similar to the vulnerability I feel putting my thoughts on a public space. She has a fish in her cup which represents imagination, I imagine that I will begin writing a little more, perhaps developing some of my readings into creative short stories. A large wave breaks in the background, suggesting the risk of being swept away. So far she has managed to stay dry. I do wonder why her left hand appears disproportionately large.